Canada-funded project launched to empower indigenous youths in Guyana

The Empowering the Next Generation: Agency and Gender Equality (ENGAGE Youth) Project was officially launched on March 5, 2025, in the Heritage Village Benab of the National Exhibition Centre, Sophia, marking a significant investment in the future of Guyana’s Indigenous youth. With a total investment of CAD $9.2 Million, this five-year initiative (2022– 2027) is funded by Global Affairs Canada (GAC), implemented by the World University Service of Canada (WUSC) and led in partnership with the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs (MoAA), which serves as the primary Government of Guyana partner.

Canada’s contribution, along with additional in-kind support from WUSC, will enable the project to be implemented across Regions 1, 7, 8 and 9, reaching a maximum of 48 Indigenous villages to empower 6,484 youth, especially young women. Through training, entrepreneurship opportunities, leadership development and climate-resilient economic activities, the project aims to foster inclusive community growth, gender equality and climate resilience. Over time, the initiative is expected to create broader economic opportunities and strengthen leadership capacity, positively impacting over 15,000 individuals in Guyana’s hinterland communities.

Providing an overview of the initiative, Ms. Vanessa Thompson, Project Director, ENGAGE Youth, noted, “At its core, the ENGAGE Youth project is about empowerment. It is about ensuring that young people, especially young women from Indigenous target communities, are equipped with the tools, skills, and confidence to lead, innovate and create lasting change for themselves, their households and communities,” she added, “We know that talent is everywhere, but opportunities are not always accessible. This initiative is designed to bridge that gap—to provide mentorship, resources and a strong support network for the next generation of Indigenous leaders.”

She shared that the initiative was developed following extensive engagement with key stakeholders, including the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs, Village Councils, community leaders, NGOs, private sector actors and Indigenous youth themselves. These consultations revealed the unique challenges Indigenous youth face due to geographic remoteness, such as limited access to education and training, unemployment and restricted opportunities for leadership and economic participation.

Speaking at the launch event, H.E. Sébastien Sigouin, High Commissioner of Canada to Guyana, reaffirmed Canada’s commitment to strengthening its partnership with Guyana through continued support for inclusive development initiatives. “This is a very important project for Canada. We have made a significant investment of CAD $8.7M (GYD 1.3B) in this project because we are committed to supporting the government’s efforts to improve the lives of Amerindian people,” stated High Commissioner Sigouin.

Highlighting the project’s focus on youth empowerment, he added: “We believe that by investing in young people through this project, we can give them the tools and power to make decisions for their own lives and future.”

In delivering the feature address at the event, Hon. Pauline Sukhai, Minister of Amerindian Affairs said, “This project complements the ongoing efforts by the Government of Guyana to ensure that development includes and prioritises youth. Amerindian youth are part and parcel of our nation’s makeup and while the opportunities are here, what we need now is to harness and empower Indigenous youth so they can recognise and seize these opportunities.”

Minster Sukhai was also joined by colleague Cabinet Ministers Hon. Joseph Hamilton, Minister of Labour and Hon. Sonia Parag, Minister of Local Government and Regional Development.

Following the launch, ENGAGE Youth will continue working closely with local Village Councils, the National Toshaos Council (NTC), and key Government of Guyana Ministries and agencies to implement training programs, mentorship initiatives and business development support for Indigenous youth, ensuring they have the skills and opportunities needed to shape their own futures.

The ENGAGE Youth project launch preceded a three-day life skills and empowerment training session for 24 Club Facilitators from Regions 1, 7 and 8, being hosted at the National Toshaos Council Secretariat, Sophia. To build the capacity of key leaders and facilitate sustainability, a cascading approach is being used for the life skills and empowerment training. This involves training community and regional leaders as Master Trainers, to train Club Facilitators, who will train youth in each target community.

As part of Guyana’s broader development agenda, the project also complements the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) by promoting gender-responsive programming and climate-smart initiatives. By working with Indigenous-led organisations, local businesses, and regional authorities, ENGAGE Youth seeks to create sustainable economic opportunities while strengthening the resilience of Indigenous communities. [Press Release]